Firefighters Robert Leaver, Daniel Heglund, and Lt. Howard Bischoff all passed away on Monday, September 22nd within minutes of each other. All three had retired from the Fire Department of New York and had contracted illnesses as a result of the work they had done at Ground Zero in response to the September 11th, 2001 terror attacks.
The Fire Department of New York lost 343 firefighters on 9/11. Many more are battling illnesses believed to stem from the contaminated air at the site.
The three deaths Monday raise to 92 the number of firefighters who died of illnesses directly related to the search for survivors. Their deaths come as advocates are urging Congress to reauthorize the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which provides medical treatment and compensation to those who got sick because of exposure to toxic air after Sept. 11.
Read the full story: FDNY: 9/11 illness kills 3 retired firefighters in one day
